Bernstein Emerging Markets Fund (SNEMX)

Emerging Markets countries has been the main global economic growth for the past 10 years. After the economic crisis, these emerging markets countries have been outperformed many developed countries. You can invest in this emerging markets stocks using mutual funds. The following is the fund review of best emerging markets stock fund.

Bernstein Emerging Markets (Ticker: SNEMX)

Bernstein Emerging Markets

The Bernstein Emerging Markets fund objective is to provide long-term capital growth. The fund normally invests at least 80% of assets in securities of companies in emerging markets. It invests approximately 50% of assets in emerging markets value stocks and 50% of assets in emerging markets growth stocks. This EM stock fund may invest in more developed country markets.

This AllianceBernstein fund is managed by Seth Masters since its inception in December 1995. This is a no load fund, it means there is no 12b1 fee as well no sales load fee (either front-end sales load or deferred sales load). It has an annual holdings turnover of 67% as of July 2011. This fund has total net assets of $1.79 billion.

Rydex / SGI Mid Cap Value A (SEVAX) Fund

Domestic stock mutual funds are majority part of investor portfolio. One of this best domestic stock fund is Rydex / SGI Mid Cap Value A fund. This best fund invests mainly in small cap stocks. Details about the fund review can be found below.

Rydex / SGI Mid Cap Value A (MUTF: SEVAX)

Rydex / SGI Mid Cap Value

The Rydex / SGI Mid Cap Value fund is seeking long-term growth of capital. The fund generally invests >80% of net assets in equity securities of companies that, when purchased, have market capitalizations that are similar to those of companies in the Russell 2500 Value Index. This Rydex|SGI fund may invest a portion of its assets in options and futures contracts.

This SEVAX fund has $1.53 billion net assets. This fund is in the Small Value category. The annual expense ratio of this fund is 1.37%. The fund dividend yield is 0.22%. This fund does have 0.25% management fee and 5.75% front-end sales load fee. This fund is currently managed by James P. Schier. He has been with this fund since its inception in May 1997. The benchmark of this fund is Russell 2500 Value Index.

Top Performer Closed End Funds of Week 40 Oct 2011

The following is the Top Performer CEFs for week 40 of 2011. The top performing funds include Aberdeen Latin America, Malaysia Fund, Latin American Discovery, and more.

Unlike Mutual Funds, Closed End Funds (CEFs) are traded like stock or exchange traded funds (ETFs). These CEFs can be attractive for investor who seeks value fund and regular income. Some of these Closed End Funds may provide very high income and its market value maybe lower than its Net Asset Value (NAV). Detail funds’ performance can be found in the following table.

The 16 Top Performer Closed End Funds CEFs 2011 (Week 40) are:

1. Aberdeen Latin America (LAQ)
2. Malaysia Fund (MAY)
3. Latin American Discovery (LDF)
4. Nuveen Energy MLP Total Return (JMF)
5. European Equity Fund (EEA)
6. China Fund (CHN)
7. Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets (MSF)
8. Korea Fund (KF)
9. Equus Total Return (EQS)
10. Nuveen MO Premium Income Muni (NOM)
11. Nuveen NC Dividend Advantage Muni (NRB)
12. BlackRock Resources & Commodity Strategy (BCX)
13. Morgan Stanley China A (CAF)
14. ClearBridge Energy MLP Opportunity (EMO)
15. Taiwan Fund (TWN)
16. AllianceBernstein Global High Income (AWF)

Note: Week 40 = October 3, 2011 till October 9, 2011

Northern California Tax-Exempt Fund (NCATX)

One of the largest municipal bond funds is California Municipal bond fund. One of this best California municipal bond funds is listed below. Muni bond fund is attractive hence its distribution rate or yield is not subjected to federal tax rates. For single state municipal bond fund such as California muni bond fund, the dividend is even exempt from California state tax. This fund may also use as a way to diversify your asset portfolio.

Northern California Tax-Exempt Fund (MUTF: NCATX)

The Northern California Tax-Exempt Fund is seeking to provide high current income exempt from federal income tax and California personal income tax. This Muni bond fund generally invests majority of the fund's net assets (>80%) in debt instruments that pay interest which is exempt from regular federal income tax especially in California municipal instruments. This best bond fund may also invest to a limited extent in obligations that are rated below investment-grade or junk bonds. The average weighted maturity typically ranges between 10 and 30 years.

NCATX Fund Details

Northern California Tax Exempt fund

• Fund Inception Date: April 8, 1997
• Ticker Symbol: NCATX
• CUSIP: 665162731
• Beta (3yr): 1.28
• Rank in category (YTD): 2
• Category: Muni California Long
• Distribution Rate: 3.81%
• Net Assets: $ 121.7 million
• Sales Load: 0.0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.74%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Maturity: 18.1 years
• Modified Duration: 7.1 years

Updated on 9/26/2011

Ave Maria Growth Fund (AVEGX)

Mid Cap domestic stock mutual fund is typically outperformed large cap stock fund. I have provided fund's review of this Ave Maria Growth Fund. It is considered as one of the best mid cap growth stock fund. You can use this fund to diversify your investment portfolio.

Ave Maria Growth Fund (MUTF: AVEGX)

The Ave Maria Growth Fund’s objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation. This Ave Maria fund invests mostly in common stocks of companies that offer above-average potential for growth in revenues, profits or cash flow. This Mid Cap Growth fund invests all of the equity investments and at least 80% of the net assets in companies meeting the fund’s religious criteria. This fund may invest in companies of all sizes or market capitalizations. This best fund also practices morally responsible investing. This process is designed to avoid investments in companies believed to offer products or services or engage in practices that are contrary to core values and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

AVEGX Fund Details

Ave Maria Growth Fund

• Fund Inception Date: May 1, 2003
• Ticker Symbol: AVEGX
• CUSIP: 808530307
• Beta (3yr): 0.95
• Rank in category (YTD): 57
• Category: Mid-Cap Growth
• Distribution Rate: 0.0%
• Net Assets: $ 169.17 million
• Sales Load: 0.0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.50%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 6 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year

Updated on 9/26/2011

BlackRock International Opportunities Investor A Fund (BREAX)

To capture the global economy opportunities, investor needs to buy international stock fund. Investing in this mutual fund can provide higher return and portfolio diversification. I have provided a fund review of BlackRock International Opportunities Investor A fund below. I also include various information like expense ratio, dividend yield, fund's performance, etc.

BlackRock International Opportunities Investor A (BREAX)

This BlackRock International Opportunities Investor fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The fund generally invests majority of net assets (>80%) in equity securities issued by foreign companies of any market capitalization. This BlackRock mutual fund may invest <30% of net assets in stocks of issuers in emerging market countries. The fund primarily buys common stock but can also invest in preferred stock and convertible securities. From time to time it may invest in shares of companies through initial public offerings or IPOs.

Wasatch Micro Cap Fund (WMICX)

Small Cap stock fund can enhance your asset portfolio and provide diversification. One of the best small cap fund is Wasatch Micro Cap fund (Ticker: WMICX). This fund is also featured in Forbes' best funds of 2011. Details about the fund review is described below.

Wasatch Micro Cap (WMICX)

Wasatch Micro Cap Fund

The Wasatch Micro Cap fund objective is to seek long-term growth of capital. It also has  a secondary objective which is to provide income. This Wasatch fund invests at least 80% of net assets in the equity securities of micro-cap companies with market capitalizations of less than $1 billion. It may invest up to 30% of total assets at the time of purchase in securities issued by foreign companies in developed or emerging markets.

As one of the small growth stock fund, this Wasatch fund’s manager is Daniel Chace since 2004. The fund has annual expense ratio of 2.18%. This fund has no 12b1 fee and no front-end sales load fee. Morningstar has rated this WMICX fund with 3-stars rating. This fund is currently on the 8th rank in the Small Growth category.